“It may be the cock that crows, but it is the hen that lays the eggs.”
Margaret Thatcher
I once had a little squat Barred Rock hen named Scar- Head Lois. She was so named because she had a gaping hole on the side of her head, the obvious result of some unknown farmyard injury. Lois was a special little hen, so special in fact that I, in a fit of generosity, gifted her to my dear sister-in-law one Christmas. Scar-Head Lois would happily lay her eggs for anyone who fed and talked to her. Lois was fond of conversation. And she had a happy life out on the ranch until she met a ravenous racoon one night who breached the walls of her happy henhouse. One sad truth in life is that everyone, and everything, loves to eat chicken.
Remembering Scar-Head Lois, my mind has been on chickens this week. Since egg prices continue to skyrocket, and prime chicken raising springtime is upon us, I thought I might again visit the topic of poultry. So here goes…
We currently do not have a flock of hens, thanks to predators who visit from time to time. But I have a confession – I do love chickens, and eggs. If forced to live like Robinson Crusoe on some deserted Caribbean Island, all I would ask for is a small library of good books, my typewriter along with an ample supply of paper, and a flock of chickens. With those three things, I would be happy.
If, like me, you are poultry friendly, and find yourself short of eggs, or are simply tired of spending each week on eggs money that would have paid for a small used car in 1968, then you may need some chickens. And maybe I can help.
In years past, much to my wife’s chagrin, I have made a habit of raising chickens in our home. This usually involved placing a large tub or box on our kitchen table, with attached heat lamp, filled with shavings, feed, water, and an assortment of baby chicks. Those days were fun, and I remember my girls well.
Fond of using vintage “old lady” names for my hens, here were some of my favorites: Mavis, Phoebe, Vera, Fern, Ruby, Eunice, Phyllis, Sadie, Cora, Eleanor, Ida, Mabel, Opal, and Nellie. I once had what I thought was a beautiful little hen that I named Amelia. With growth, my little hen turned out to be a rooster, so she/he then became Amelio. Amelio was sent as a Christmas present along with Scar-Head Lois and met her same fate.
Speaking of roosters, be warned. Roosters crow, long and early. If you have close neighbors you might want to stick with hens alone, in order to avoid conflict. If you have no close neighbors, then adding a rooster to your flock does give your girls some security. If you allow your chickens to wander in your pasture or yard (free-range eggs always taste better), then an irritable rooster can often discourage daytime predators. But roosters can be, and often are, rank, and may need to be dispatched if you find they will attack you or other family members. And it helps to name them accordingly. We once had a rooster that clued me in early as to his temperament. Predicting that he would soon need to lose his head, we named him John the Baptist.
If buying chickens, it is best to purchase chicks and raise them yourself (my opinion) – if this is agreeable to other humans in your circle. If you are new to nurturing poultry, a visit to YouTube might be in order. You can learn all you want to about raising chickens quickly this way. And of course, breed selection is most important.
I have always preferred the old standard dual-purpose breeds. They are typically good natured, and most lay brown eggs. Here are some of my favorites:
Barred Rocks (beautiful dark gray and white barred plumage) – the ideal farm or ranch chicken, Barred Rocks are steady and reliable. They always seem among the most intelligent hens in a flock.
Buff Orpingtons (golden colored feathers) – large quiet birds, they make good setters and mothers if you want to hatch more chicks later.
Rhode Island Reds (lovely red plumage) – popular breed and very good layers – they can be feisty and sometimes pick on other birds. If you have a mixed flock, good idea to limit their number for peace in the henhouse.
Black Australorp (all black feathers) – wonderful chickens, quiet and gentle, superior heat tolerance, and very good layers.
Ameraucanas (plumage varies) – they lay blue and green eggs, so make a nice addition to any flock.
There are many other wonderful chicken breeds available. If you are ready to become a poultry parent, here’s a great source for good chickens – Murray McMurray Hatchery (mcmurrayhatchery.com). Good luck!
© 2025 Jody Dyer
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